Chain-tightening device.



' E. J. BENSON;

CH'AIN TIGHTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

wins/5885s Z4 dim/57- agar/50 /Z- By I pi" ERNEST J. BENSON, F BLACKFOOT, EAHO, ASSIGNOR 01F ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES VERNON FISHER, 01E BLACKFOOT, IDAHO cnam-rren'rnnrno nnvrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov, 16, 1915.,

Application filed A ril as, 191a Serial No. 34,439,

. and useful Improvement in Chain-Tightening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in chain tightening devices, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to pro vide an improved means whereby a'chain of the non-skid type may be tightened around a portion of the periphery of a wheel as in cases where the wheel is partially submerged in mud to such an extent as to render the placing of the chain entirely around the wheel impossible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described consisting of a pair of clips adapted to be connected to a non-skid chain terminal on each side of the folly and being provided one with a flexible element in theform of a chain length and, the other with a lever adapted to be engaged with the flexible element and to be moved in such manner as to tighten the same for drawing the clips toward each other and thus tighten the non-skid chain upon the wheel tire.

A still further object is to provide a device of the class described whichwill be extremely simple, durable, efiicient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which: Figure 1 represents a View in elevation of an automobile wheel, showing the same equipped with a non-skid chain of ordinary construction, tightened upon the wheel by.

ing, a wheel is indicated generally at 5 and is "provided with a telly 6, the pneumatic tire with which the Wheel is e nipped being indicated at 7." A non-skid c ain of ordinary well known type is indicated at 8.

The device forming the subject of the present invention, includes a pair of clips 9 and 10 which are made substantially alike,

and which are each preferably formed of a length of stout wire bent into substantial U-shape and having its terminals provided with oppositely disposed hooks 11. Each of the clips is provided, with a loop portion 12 offset to one side of the center of the clip, so

that when the device is in use the flexible element or chain 13 carried by clip 9 may lie entirely on one side of the spokes of the wheel. llhe side members 14 of the clips are of a width apart substantially equal to, w.

or slightly greater than, the width of the folly 6 of the wheel, so that the clips may straddle the telly when in position. The flexible element or chain 13 is connected at one end to the loop portion 12 of clip .9, the opposite end of the chain either-being free or'if desired being connected to the loop portion 12 of clip 10. f

Pivoted near one end upon the loop portion 12 of clip 10, is a lever consisting of a shank 15 provided at its outer end with an offset 'right angularly extending hook 16, and being provided at its inner end with a curved arm or'dog'l'Z.

The device is intended primarily to be used in securing a chain of the non-skid type partially around the periphery of a wheel, as in cases where the wheel is submerged in mud or water to such an extent as to prevent the positioning of the chain entirely around the same. lln operation the non-skid "chain is placed upon the uppermost part of the wheel as indicated in Fig.

1, and the clips 9 and 10 are then connectedv to suitable links in the chain at the desired points on the eriphery or relatively to the periphery of t e'wheel, in such manner-that ice the hooks 11 engage the links in the nonskid chain, with the clips bridging orstrad dling the felly 6 of the wheel, and extending toward each other. When thus positioned the loops 12 extend to one side of the line of spokes, and the chain 13- also lies on the same side of the'line of spokes with the loops 12, The lever being in the dotted 45 1 combination, and arrangement o'f', parts 1 lineposition indicated in Fig. 1, is then engaged by means of the arm or dog 17 with one of the links of the chain 13, after 'the latter has been stretched taut by the operator of the device, and said lever is then moved upwardly thus tightening the chain 13 and drawing the terminals of the non-skid chain toward each other, and in this manner tighten'ing the non-skid chain. When the desired tension is obtained, the hook 16 provided,

on the lever is engaged over the flexible element 13 in the manner indicated, whereby to prevent accidental downward movement of the lever incident to the strain exerted thereupon by the chain 13. The surplus portion of the non-skid chain may be folded back as indicated in Fig. '1, and. hooked into the I device in-place.

- wheel, it will be noted that from the conwheel.

suitable links at the desired portion of the non-skid chain.

By having the loop portions ofiset so as to position the chain 13' to one side of the line of spokes, there will be no danger ofscratching ormarring the surface of the spokes in attaching the device, or in operating the Wheel while the device is in place.

It will be noted that by the use of my invention it is not necessary to jack the wheel up in order to'atta'ch the chain, and that the device is readily; attachable from the outside of the wheehse that no inconvenience may be experienced insecuring the While the chain 13 is positioned on theoutside of the spokes of the struction and arrangement of the clips 9 and -10,' the pull imparted upon them through the action .of the lever, will be transferred equally to both sides of the non-skid chain, that 1s, Wlll be equally distributed on the portion of said chain lying on the outside and the portion lying on the inside of the Although I have described the preferred embodiment .of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction,

thereof, as do not depart from the spirit Witnesses:

, I meoses pended claims.

I claim 7 1'. A device of the class described comprising a pair of substantially U-shap'ed clips provided with hooks adapted to engage the terminals of a section of non-skid chain and adapted to straddle the telly of a wheel on whlch said chain is carried, said clips being each provided with a looped por of the invention, and the scope of the ap tion offset to one side of the line of spokes, a

flexible element carried by'the looped portion of one clip, and a lever pivoted on the looped portion of the opposite clip and being pro vided at one end with an arm for engaging the flexible element, the opposite end of the I tightening the latter whereby to tighten the non-skid chain upon a wheel, said lever being provided with means adapted to retain the lever in tightened position.

3. A device of'the class described includ-- ing a pair of subst ntially U-shaped clips provided'with hooks adapted to engage the terminals of a section of non-skid chain, and adapted to straddle the telly of a wheel on which the chain is carried, said clips being each'provided with a loop portion offset to one side of the line of spokes, and means connecting the loops and adapted to be opwhereby to tightenthe non-skid chain upon the wheel. ERNEST J. BENSON.

., ELIZABETH FANELL,

. HANS VON LASTOWICKA.

.erated at will for drawing the clips together 

